MJL456: He entered the night with a .236 batting

He entered the night with a .236 batting

NEW ORLEANS -- The Saints and Falcons?came together for a display of unity Monday night, joining hands in a circle on the field following the national anthem.ESPNs Lisa Salters reported from the sideline during the broadcast that Saints coach Sean Payton reached out to Falcons coach Dan Quinn with the idea earlier in the week and that player leaders from both teams loved it. The coaches left it up to their quarterbacks, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan, to come up with the exact way for that statement to be both unifying and respectful of the national anthem.Payton and Quinn figured it was a great way for players to join the growing protests around the NFL against injustice in America while still making it a message about unity, especially with two longtime rival teams from culturally rich cities. They planned to spend a minute holding hands in thought and prayer.I reached out to Drew [Brees] and just told him we were on board, Ryan said. But I think the big thing was, I mean, obviously, everybody knows whats been going on throughout this entire year and for a long time. And people think things need to change. We all felt like the best way to do it was everybody do it together. And we wanted to send a message loud and clear that unity is probably the best way to make a change, and I thought that came across loud and clear tonight.The gesture was inspired by the latest police shootings in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, this past week. A source suggested to Salter that a handful of players had been feeling outside pressure to join the cause, but they didnt want to do it at the expense of the teams.Saints running back Mark Ingram expressed that very conundrum earlier this week.Well probably come up with something before Sunday. We just want everybody to be on the same page, and we want it to be unity, said Ingram, who has strongly supported the message of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others who have protested during the national anthem and who said more than once Friday that his heart is hurting.We want it to be all, everybody, because thats what were trying to do. Were trying to bring everybody together. Our nation needs to come together. Everybody needs to care for each other, Ingram said. And thats whats so good about sports. It brings everybody together, no matter what race. These are my brothers in here. Guys I played with in the past, those are my brothers. You dont see color. You just see a guy who you work hard with and go to battle with and work with every single day.I understand that theres differences when you go out to the real world, so we just want to set an example, and we want to bring unity. We want everybody to be together and dont want to do anything that causes division or controversy.Brees was one of the most vocal critics of Kaepernick and his decision to use the national anthem as his forum for protest. Brees said he supported Kaepernicks message but wholeheartedly disagreed with his method because he found it disrespectful to the flag and the sacrifices of military members.Its a serious issue, Brees said after the Falcons 45-32 victory Monday, and we felt like an appropriate way to show our unity and bring attention to that was by making that circle together, everybody lock arms, take a moment of silence, to pray, to be in thought, meditation, whatever you want to do. ... [It was] the way we would like to give attention -- after the national anthem -- in a way that shows were all in this together.Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme issued a statement on Twitter after the game praising the pregame show of unity as what we wanted to show tonight.Said Ingram earlier this week: I know people have different opinions about the anthem. But Kaeps cause and what hes doing it for, for the injustices of not just blacks but anybody who [is a victim of] police brutality ... I know it happens to everybody, whites, blacks, Asians. Its just unfortunate.So I support [the protestors] and everything they stand for 100 percent. But with my team, I want us to do something that we all would be proud of. Its just unfortunate whats going on in our country right now. Austin Riley Jersey. Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Joe Torre Jersey. The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. www.custombravesjersey.com/custom-bob-uecker-jersey-large-167z.html /a>. -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Clete Boyer Jersey. "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Blue Moon Odom Jersey. Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. WASHINGTON -- Dansby Swansons first major league home run stayed in the ballpark.The 2015 overall No. 1 draft pick circled the bases with an inside-the-park home run in the second inning of the Atlanta Braves 9-7 loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.Swanson lined a pitch from Gio Gonzalez over Trea Turner and high off the center-field fence, 399 feet away. The ball caromed toward the infield, and Swanson slid home headfirst, easily beating the throw by right fielder Bryce Harper.It was one of those things where I thought it was going to be my first triple, Swanson said. Theen as I kept going, judging by the reaction in the dugout and the crowd, I thought, Maybe Ill get an inside-the-parker.dddddddddddd I just kept going.Swanson was selected by Arizona in the draft, traded to Atlanta in December and made his big league debut Aug. 17. He entered the night with a .236 batting average and four RBIs in 55 at-bats.Atlantas last inside-the-park home run was by Wes Helms on Oct. 7, 2001.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '